The New Surpasses the Old

News of Chu Tianshu's great victory over the Flowing Cloud Manor Master spread across Poyang Lake.

Within a single day, like countless snowflakes and clouds, flying feathers in the wind, it spread Jiangnan.

Even people in the capital had been waiting for the outcome of this challenge since last month.

When the news reached Zuo Ziqing, he was playing chess with the abbot of Mount Song Shaolin.

The abbot was slightly broad-shouldered, with a kind face, white Bai Mei and a white beard. He wore a bright red robe with gold thread over his yellow monk's robe, and around his neck hung one hundred and eight Bodhi seeds. He also had a rosary with twenty-four beads on his wrist.

Compared to him, Zuo Ziqing's chess skills were less of a match and more of a learning experience.

But after Zuo Ziqing read the note, he remained silent for a long time, without saying a word.

The relationship between those seeking knowledge is thus reversed.

"Left benefactor."

The abbot of Shaolin Temple smiled and said, "The Eastern Depot's information network is extensive, known throughout the land. Today is the first day of the month, so what we just heard must be the outcome of the battle on Poyang Lake?"

"Ah... yes."

Zuo Ziqing looked somewhat dazed, then came to his senses, handed over the note, and murmured, "He really did kill the Flowing Cloud Manor Master too."

The abbot of Shaolin Temple hadn't even taken the note when he heard those words.

The hand that took the note paused for a moment.

After a short while, he took the note and read it himself.

I wasn't mistaken just now; it was Flowing Cloud Manor Master lost.

Namo Amitabha Buddha.

The abbot of Shaolin Temple had a complicated expression, and after a long while, he said, "Benefactor Liuyun, you visited the Bodhidharma Cave back then."

"When he emerged, he had already mastered the Bodhidharma Divine Sword technique that no one in Shaolin had achieved mastery in hundreds of years."

"Of the thirty-seven unique skills, the Bodhidharma Divine Sword ranks among the top, but it is probably not the highest."

The old monk sighed deeply, filled with regret.

"I originally thought that no one would surpass him in martial arts within a hundred years; either many people would have to join forces to resist him, or we would have to wait for him to die of old age."

"Who would have thought... that a new generation has truly replaced the old."

A thousand thoughts flashed through Zuo Ziqing's mind.

Suddenly, it occurred to him that he was colluding with the forces under Chu Tianshu's command, and that the collusion was growing larger and larger.

Then I wondered how I should conduct myself in the face of such a powerful person.

His mind was in turmoil, sometimes excited, sometimes confused. He heard the old monk's voice and couldn't help but say, "Master, I've long heard of your reputation for being able to predict everything accurately."

"Weren't you the Flowing Cloud Manor Master before?"

To put it nicely, it's called being able to predict everything; to put it bluntly, it's called having a jinx.

Back when the Flowing Cloud Manor Master first gained fame in the martial arts world, he claimed to have learned from all schools of thought and challenge all renowned masters.

At that time, some busybodies went to visit the abbot of Shaolin Temple and asked for his opinion.

Although he was very reserved, he couldn't help but let slip a few words when asked too many questions.

It is often said that although the Flowing Cloud Manor Master is exceptionally talented, he is too distracted and may not be able to reach the pinnacle in any one area.

Hero Eagle Eye of the Twelve Linked Forts, possesses a pair of sharp eyes that can surely...

The Mount Hua Sect Leader's Thirteen Forms of the Gentle Breeze transforms the sword into fingers, leaving no trace, and surpasses even the Eagle Eye technique...

For three hundred years, all those who have called themselves the Xiaoxiang Swordsman have been at least first-rate masters, and the contemporary Xiaoxiang Swordsman are the foremost masters of light and agile swordsmanship in the world...

At least General Xiang wouldn't lose, would he? He led troops to suppress the peasant uprisings, and fought countless battles in his life...

Every person favored by the Shaolin abbot was defeated by the Flowing Cloud Manor Master.

Fortunately, when Flowing Cloud Manor Master visited the Bodhidharma Cave later, the abbot of Shaolin Temple personally stepped in and exchanged three blows with him, managing not to suffer a loss, thus preserving the reputation of Mount Song Shaolin.

Regardless of his words, this abbot is certainly skilled in martial arts.

Judging from the old monk's tone just now, this duel will continue until the result is announced.

The one he favors is most likely the Flowing Cloud Manor Master.

"Those are just rumors."

The abbot of Shaolin Temple remained calm.

"If my words truly possessed such power, wouldn't I have already subdued Flowing Cloud Manor Master long ago?"

His explanation was already quite compelling, but thinking about his own experiences from earlier years, he couldn't help but add a few more words.

"Besides, what I just said was that a new generation surpasses the old. Could it be that I can also curse down this ' Layman Tian ' Chu Tianshu next?"

Zuo Ziqing laughed and said, "I was just talking nonsense, Master, please don't take it to heart."

The high-ranking eunuch, who had already been promoted to the fourth rank, hurriedly got up.

"I should report this news to His Majesty as soon as possible. We'll continue with today's situation another day."

When Zuo Ziqing hurried to the emperor's bedroom, several eunuchs rushed over to greet him, walking alongside him and whispering their reports.

"Godfather, the Emperor's brother-in-law has already gone to meet with the Emperor."

Zuo Ziqing's expression tightened, and he quickened his pace.

The current emperor's favorite concubine is a concubine, and he even appointed her own brother as the commander of the Brocade Guard.

Even the current Grand Secretary, Wan, went to great lengths to curry favor with this Commander-in-Chief.

At the time, relying on the fact that the two families shared the same surname, they managed to establish a kinship by pulling strings and making connections.

Although there was much discussion about this cabinet minister among the court and the public, the emperor simply favored these people.

Moreover, before the leaders of Shaolin Wudang arrived in the capital, this imperial brother-in-law, who was also the commander-in-chief, was already the top martial arts expert in the capital.

Regardless of what happens in private, there are very few people who dare not give him face in public.

A few years ago, the imperial concubine had passed away, and the emperor was bedridden, but the power of this imperial brother-in-law grew even stronger.

When Zuo Ziqing entered the palace, he indeed heard the emperor laughing loudly.

The emperor's brother-in-law had already reported the good news to the emperor.

"Hahaha, this traitorous villain is finally dead, finally dead!"

The emperor had sunken eyes and a sickly appearance. He wore only a thin robe and a yellow silk ribbon tied around his forehead.

He had such a terrible headache that he tied the ribbon tightly to relieve it.

His cheeks were flushed, and he was beaming with joy.

"My Great Ming can still be saved! It really can be saved! Fate is still in my hands. What can be done about these treacherous villains?"

The emperor held the emperor's brother-in-law's hand tightly.

"This Layman Tian is truly a righteous man; I shall appoint him as the Dharma Master Who Protects the Nation."

"My dear minister, you go and deliver the imperial decree yourself. No, not only that, but also greatly reward all his subordinates."

Zuo Ziqing's expression shifted slightly.

The current emperor has already bestowed titles upon more than a thousand Zen masters, True Person, and Dharma Kings, and they all remain in the capital.

If they were all experts, that would be fine, but the problem is that the vast majority of them are just swindlers who are good at making drugs and putting on a show.

Don't even mention comparing them to the leaders of Shaolin Wudang.

Most of those people probably couldn't even defeat a random Brocade Guard.

If they keep randomly bestowing titles, all sorts of names will lose their value again.

Just as Zuo Ziqing was about to step forward to persuade him, the emperor suddenly seemed to regain some clarity.

"This man surnamed Chu... is he truly a loyal and righteous man?"

The emperor's brother-in-law's eyes darted around, about to say something.

Zuo Ziqing had completely forgotten what he had wanted to persuade him about. He slid to his knees and arrived in front of the emperor, loudly announcing the good news and speaking of Chu Tianshu's loyalty and righteousness.

There was no other way but to say it; he had just facilitated the deal with Chu Tianshu, and it hadn't been long.

The emperor was greatly pleased to hear this, and his expression relaxed somewhat.

Just then, a eunuch came running in from outside the hall, tumbling and crawling.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has fallen into the water while riding his horse across the bridge!"

"The servants risked their lives to rescue the Crown Prince, but the Crown Prince... the Crown Prince, still hasn't woken up."

Everyone in the hall was greatly surprised upon hearing this.

Although the emperor has been seriously ill in recent years, fortunately, the crown prince was established early, so the court situation is still relatively stable.

Now that the emperor's days are numbered, how did the crown prince end up drowning?

With the Flowing Cloud Manor Master just dead, do some people in the court already feel there's no longer any pressure from that side?

In an instant, a multitude of schemes flashed through Zuo Ziqing's mind.

He couldn't figure out which side was behind it; it couldn't possibly be a coincidence.

After a moment of silence in the hall, Zuo Ziqing and the Imperial Uncle both sensed something was wrong and suddenly turned around to look.

Surprisingly, the emperor did not fly into a rage; his face, however, turned frighteningly pale.

"Rebellious, rebellious..."

The emperor was overjoyed, shocked, and furious. He couldn't catch his anger, and suddenly felt a sweet taste in his throat.

Puff!

A mouthful of fresh blood splattered onto the bright yellow silk.

The next day.

When Chu Tianshu received these messages, his expression was subtle, and he was quite suspicious for a while.

"I haven't even left yet... I was planning to hurry up and make some connections in the capital. Who did this?"

"It can't really be because the Great Ming's crown prince is water-soluble, and the accompanying experts couldn't retrieve him quickly enough, can it?"

(End of this chapter)